Two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela on Wednesday evening, causing significant damage and claiming 32 lives, according to US President Donald Trump. The back-to-back tremors, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, were felt across a vast region, prompting an emergency response from authorities.
Acting President Delcy Rodríguez said the earthquakes had caused damage in multiple states, though officials were still assessing the extent of the destruction. The main aviation hub, Simón Bolívar International Airport, suffered significant damage and was forced to suspend operations.
Classes were suspended for several days as officials assessed the impact of the disaster and worked to ensure public safety. Buildings were evacuated in parts of Brazil's Amazon region, roughly 1,700 kilometres from Caracas.
